Harry Redknapp claimed he thought Tony Adams must have fallen off the wagon after hearing his former assistant describe Heurelho Gomes as the best goalkeeper in the world.
Adams's assessment of Gomes came from his spell honing his coaching skills in the Netherlands, but he was not alone in offering a glowing report on the Brazilian keeper.
It was an opinion shared by Guus Hiddink, who had first-hand experience of Gomes from his time as manager of PSV Eindhoven.
On Saturday, after watching Gomes pull of a string of fantastic saves to earn Tottenham a valuable point, Redknapp had nothing but praise for the way his keeper has turned his career around.
On point: Gomes kept Fulham at bay with a string of sublime saves on Saturday
'Now he does look a terrific keeper,' said Redknapp. 'When I first came to Spurs I thought, 'We've got a problem here'. Tony Parks coming as goalkeeping coach has made a big difference.'
Gomes was also keen to praise Parks' work and insisted he never had any intention of turning his back on the Barclays Premier League to return to PSV.
'I give Tony all the credit because he has worked hard with me,' said Gomes. 'People in Holland knew that I was a good keeper. Here in England they didn't, but I never forgot that I could play football.
'It was a difficult time, especially when you are having to play against many of the best players in the world. I felt I needed to prove I could play in England. Now I feel I have done that.'
Damien Duff, Danny Murphy and Clint Dempsey were all denied by Gomes, as was Bobby Zamora three times. Even when Gomes was beaten, his performance deserved a slice of good fortune when Dempsey's free-kick cannoned off the top of the bar.
Given Fulham's home form, Redknapp viewed a point and a third clean sheet as a good afternoon's work.
Playing through the pain: Fulham's Brede Hangeland (left) looks set to miss Fulham's match with Chelsea
But Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer was not called into serious action until the 82nd minute, first to deny Peter Crouch from distance and then prevent Jermaine Jenas knocking in the rebound. That underlined Redknapp's take on things.
The failure of Robbie Keane to seize his chance when selected ahead of Jermain Defoe had much to do with Tottenham's lack of attacking threat. It is safe to assume Defoe will be restored to the starting XI when Spurs take on West Ham on Monday.
Having named an unchanged side from that which had dispatched Manchester United, Fulham boss Roy Hodgson might not be afforded the same luxury for the trip to Stamford Bridge after revealing Brede Hangeland had played in pain, having injured his knee.
The news Didier Drogba has been granted a temporary reprieve from Africa Cup of Nations duty, coupled with Hangeland's injury, was not what Hodgson wanted to hear.
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